Taguig court hands life sentence to 3 big-time drug pushers

Mayor Lani: Decision a victory in city’s war vs drugs

A Taguig court has sentenced to life imprisonment three big-time drug pushers, in a decision Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano lauds as a victory in the longtime effort to rid the city of illegal drugs.

“This is a crucial victory in a crusade we’ve begun in 2010,”  said the Taguig mayor. “The adverse effects of illegal drugs ripple from the individual to the community at large so we’ve maintained the offensive versus this industry. Each drug personality we pin down is definitely a win for the city.”

Judge Antonio Olivete of Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 267 also fined Jose Vastine, Edilberto Ty and Albert Joaquin Ong P500,000 each after he ruled they were guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Section 5 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act on Monday, September 3, 2018.

Ong and Vastine were also ordered to undergo rehabilitation for a minimum period of six months in a government center after they were found guilty beyond reasonable doubt for violation of Section 15 Article 2 of the same law.

Olivete ordered the commitment of the three convicted drug pushers to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

“We’ve always been confident that the people would win this litigation,” said Mayor Lani. “This is a fitting conclusion. It is proof that the city is committed to the safety and well-being of Taguigeños.”

Vastine, Ty and Ong were nabbed in a buy-bust operation that turned up with 2 kilograms of high-grade cocaine worth P10 million in 2011. The sting is only one of the many police operations that caught big fish in the drug trade.

Tinga Drug Syndicate members Joel Tinga and Elisa “Ely” Tinga were also sentenced to reclusion perpetua for selling illegal drugs in September 2016 and February 2017, respectively.

Elisa, wife of Noel Tinga, reportedly a cousin of former Taguig Mayor Freddie Tinga, was the third most wanted person in the list of illegal drug personalities. She was the seventh member of the Tinga Drug Syndicate who was arrested and jailed.

The Top 10 drug personalities in 2015 —Michael Butch Tan, Sancho Espiritu, Alfonso Dacquel, Richard Silvestre, Isidro Llagas, Mardie Talampas, Jackie Abone, Adonis Venus, Bags Malay and Rawie Castro—are all now behind bars, thanks to the continuous efforts of the police.

Several initiatives were also introduced to curb the drug menace.

In 2016, the Taguig Anti-Drug Abuse Council launched the drug-free community program for drug dependents. The two-month program aims to rehabilitate drug users and reintegrate them as productive members of society.

Taguig, under the leadership of Mayor Lani, also implements a “one-strike policy” against business establishments allowing patrons and customers to use illegal drugs. The city government immediately revokes business permits even though establishments are first-time offenders.

“All these measures and convictions should be a clear warning to users, and pushers,” said Mayor Lani. “We will not stop playing our part in making the nation drug-free.”

FILIPINO VERSION

3 big-time drug pushers nasentensyahan ng habang buhay na pagkabilanggo

Mayor Lani: Desisyon ng korte ay tagumpay ng Taguig kontra droga

Hinatulan ng Taguig City regional trial court ang tatlong big-time na tulak ng iligal na droga ng habang buhay na pagkakakulong, na siyang itinuturing na tagumpay ni Mayor Lani Cayetano sa kampanya ng lungsod kontra iligal na droga.

“This is a crucial victory in a crusade we’ve begun in 2010,”  wika ni Taguig mayor. “The adverse effects of illegal drugs ripple from the individual to the community at large so we’ve maintained the offensive versus this industry. Each drug personality we pin down is definitely a win for the city.”

Ayon sa hatol ni Judge Antonio Olivete ng Taguig RTC Branch 267 nitong Setyembre 3, Lunes, guilty ang mga akusadong sina Jose Vastine, Edilberto Ty at Albert Joaquin Ong kung saan pinatawan din sila na magbayad ng multang P500,000 matapos sentensyahang guilty beyond reasonable doubt sa paglabag sa Section 5 ng Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Sasailalim rin sa rehabilitasyon sina Ong at Vastine sa loob ng anim na buwan sa isang government center sa hiwalay na kasong paglabag sa Section 15 ng Article 2 ng nasabing batas.

Iniutos na rin ni Judge Olivete ang paglipat ng tatlong sentensyadong drug pushers sa New Bilibid Prison sa Muntinlupa City.

“We’ve always been confident that the people would win this litigation,” saad pa ni Mayor Lani. “This is a fitting conclusion. It is proof that the city is committed to the safety and well-being of Taguigeños.”

Si Vastine, Ty at Ong ay nahuli ng pamahalaan sa isang buy-bust operation kung saan nakuhaan sila ng mahigit dalawang kilo ng high-grade cocaine na nagkakahalaga ng P10 milyon noong 2011. Isa lamang ito sa maraming anti-drug operation ng Taguig PNP kung saan malalaking tao ang mga nalalambat ng pulis.

Magugunita na ang mga miyembro ng Tinga Drug Syndicate na sina Joel Tinga at Elisa “Ely” Tinga ay nasentensyahan na rin ng reclusion perpetua dahil sa pagbebenta ng iligal na droga noong September 2016 at February 2017.

Si Elisa na asawa ni Noel Tinga, na pinsan umano ni dating Taguig Mayor Freddie Tinga, ay ang third most wanted person sa listahan ng illegal drug personalities. Siya ang pang-pitong miyembro ng Tinga Drug Syndicate na nahuli at nakulong.

Ang iba pang nasa Top 10 drug personalities noong 2015 —Michael Butch Tan, Sancho Espiritu, Alfonso Dacquel, Richard Silvestre, Isidro Llagas, Mardie Talampas, Jackie Abone, Adonis Venus, Bags Malay at Rawie Castro—ay kasalukuyang nakakulong dahil sa programa ng Taguig PNP na masawata ang droga sa lungsod.

Noong 2016, ang Taguig Anti-Drug Abuse Council ay naglunsad ng drug-free community program para sa mga nalulong sa droga. Ang dalawang buwan na programa ay may layuning i-rehabilitate ang mga drug user at ma-reintegrate sila bilang mabuting mamamayan.

Ang Taguig, sa ilalim ng liderato ni Mayor Lani, ay nagpatupad ng “one-strike policy” laban sa mga business establishment na mahuhuling nagbebenta o pumapayag na gumamit ng iligal na droga ang kanilang mga customer. Agad na mare-revoke ang kanilang business permits kahit na ang establishments ay first-time offenders.

“All these measures and convictions should be a clear warning to users, and pushers,” wika pa ni Mayor Lani. “We will not stop playing our part in making the nation drug-free.”###